On Sunday family and friends marked one year since the death of Ugandan businessman and rally driver Rajiv Ruparelia.
The day was marked with a charity drive aimed at supporting patients in need of prosthetic limbs.
Rajiv, the son of Kampala’s biggest property magnate Dr Sudhir Ruparelia, died in the early hours of May 3, 2025, following a fatal crash at the Munyonyo Expressway Roundabout. He was driving from Kajjansi towards Munyonyo when his Nissan GTR reportedly struck temporary pavement barriers installed at the flyover section, causing him to lose control. The vehicle caught fire, killing him instantly.
To commemorate the first anniversary of his death, Dr Ruparelia and his wife, Jyotsna, were joined by relatives and close associates in donating 20 prosthetic legs to the orthopedic department at Mulago National Referral Hospital.
The donation, family members said, was intended to extend hope and mobility to patients who have lost limbs, while also reflecting causes Rajiv cared about during his lifetime.
“It’s been one year since he departed. What we are doing is in fulfilment of the things Rajiv used to love while still alive,” Dr Ruparelia said during the event.
Prosthetic limbs are artificial devices designed to replace missing body parts (arms, legs, hands, or feet) resulting from trauma, disease, or congenital conditions). They are customized to restore functionality, such as walking or grasping, and improve the quality of life and independence
Friends and members of the motorsport fraternity also used the occasion to reflect on Rajiv’s legacy in rally driving. Veteran rally driver Ponsiano Lwakataka called for efforts to keep his memory alive within the sport.
“There is a need to keep his legacy alive, including bringing back his rally car to participate in competitions,” Lwakataka said.
Rajiv was widely known not only for his role in the Ruparelia business empire but also for his passion for motorsport, where he had become a familiar figure in Uganda’s rally scene.
The anniversary commemoration blended remembrance with philanthropy, as those close to him sought to honour his life through acts aimed at impacting others beyond his passing.